Mouze Kateerzhttps://mouzekateerz.com
Living, Planning and Photographing Disney DreamTue, 15 Nov 2016 07:41:14 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/84c558572adcfbd0d4b8664e24794736?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngMouze Kateerzhttps://mouzekateerz.com
Adventures By Disney – prequelhttps://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/16/adventures-by-disney-prequel/
https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/16/adventures-by-disney-prequel/#commentsTue, 17 May 2016 01:14:50 +0000http://mouzekateerz.com/?p=8136]]>Adventures By Disney. You may have heard the name, perhaps many times. But like me, you might wonder just who are they or what service do they provide or why would I want to travel with them?Reading brochures and reviews of others, or watching videos about ABD only brought more questions. Thus the only solution seemed to be book a vacation with them and gain the experience, so the search began as to where to go and when.

Being retired from our careers for over a year now, we are still adjusting to life on a ‘fixed’ income, so pricing for leisure travel has to remain within our budget. My “retire to” job as a Travel Planner specializing in all things Disney and a few other family destinations, allows me to build a vacation slush fund, if you will. My husband Roger and I determined our first – yes, I am already planning on another – ABD trip should be within North America and we were pleased to see quite a few options – including special ‘long weekend’ adventures to places such as Nashville, New York, and San Francisco. Other longer destinations shown were Alaska, Arizona and Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Alberta, Canada. Then we saw Southern California! Wait, what? This could be doable as 6 days & 5 nights … perfect for us.

A brief description was: “Prepare for SoCal VIP treatment while on backstage tours of The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Imagineering, The Jim Henson Company and much more!” Checking the drop-down for dates I see an *Adult Only tour for mid-October, then click for more information.

“Get ready for your close up as you experience the sights of Old Hollywood on this Southern California vacation that includes a rare behind-the-magic private tour of the Walt Disney Studios. You’ll also find yourself in the middle of the magic as you head to the Happiest Place on Earth for some fun-filled days and nights at the Disneyland® Resort.”

“Woo Hoo, we’re going to Disneyland!” But cooler (read more fruggle) heads prevailed. Roger: “Why don’t we check on pricing first?” “Oh, bother, what does it matter – it’s DISNEYLAND – and their 60th Anniversary – we HAVE to go!” I argue. But since there is that silly budget … okay, it is a bit higher than I hoped, but why I wondered. Hmm, trip highlights:

~Private Hollywood Tour: walking tour through Hollywood to see some of the most iconic sites in Tinseltown, including TCL Chinese Theatre, El Capitan Theatre, and Hollywood Walk of Fame.

~Visit Jim Henson Company: exclusive VIP visit to the Jim Henson Company Studios, built on the original site of Charlie Chaplin’s movie studio.

~Walt Disney’s Disneyland Apartment: See Disneyland® Park from the perspective of the man that started it all! Enjoy an exclusive visit to Walt’s apartment located on the second floor of the Disneyland Fire Dept. building.

~Behind the Scenes at Disneyland Resort: 2-day VIP experience at Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park with special Disney’s FASTPASS® service and reserved parade seating.

All of this included in the package, plus nearly everything else is paid – 4-5 star accommodations, most meals, all gratuities (drivers, bellmen, housekeeping, meals, etc.) and you get a driver to pick you up and return you to the airport! Considering we don’t generally budget those things into our trip, the pricing ended up to be very reasonable. Book it we did!

Part 1 … Getting ready for our first Adventures by Disney vacation

]]>https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/16/adventures-by-disney-prequel/feed/1dumbofanResort Hopping at the Grand Floridianhttps://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/13/resort-hopping-at-the-grand-floridian/
https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/13/resort-hopping-at-the-grand-floridian/#respondSat, 14 May 2016 01:50:58 +0000http://mouzekateerz.com/?p=8339]]>So what do you do when you’re traveling to Walt Disney World on a budget, yet you want to get a taste of what life is like on the other side?
I have two words for you my friend……..Resort Hopping.

If you take a little time away from the parks, there is a whole new world to discover. And I’m not talking about flying on a magic carpet either. I’m talking about hopping over to the Grand Floridian resort. Located on the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon and just a monorail stop away from the Magic Kingdom, it’s no wonder that the Grand Floridian resort can cost a pretty penny to stay at. And let’s face it, I’m probably not going to be able to afford any room (for any length of time) at the Grand Floridian anytime soon! So what better way to experience the finer things in life then to resort hop and check it all out? I’ve made this particular resort a stop on many of our past Walt Disney World vacations. We’ve experienced some of the restaurants, did some shopping, did some lounging – just like we were real life resort guests. It really is a magnificent place to spend an afternoon or evening. I will admit, for the money it’s not really my style, but I can appreciate the beauty and grandeur of it from afar (as I stay at the less expensive but not any less charming Port Orleans Riverside). This resort is also home to one of my favorite hidden gems restaurants, the Grand Floridian Cafe. I suppose it is not really hidden but I think it is extremely overlooked due to some of the more popular restaurants at this resort like Citricos and Narcoossee’s. The Grand Floridian Cafe actually has some amazing food and I would put it on par with some of the signature dining. I also loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. Best part is, it’s less expensive or less credits on the dining plan. Want to feel real fancy for a minute? You can also take part in afternoon tea in the Garden View Lounge while enjoying crumpets, scones and more. To top it all off, this resort has some beautiful grounds and great views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon. Making it overall an amazing stop while resort hopping. Perhaps one day I’ll get to stay there, or at least make a visit to the spa. A girl can dream right?

]]>https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/13/resort-hopping-at-the-grand-floridian/feed/0Grand Floridian Resortkmaxwell5314431791107505New Writers Wanted!https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/10/new-writers-wanted/
https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/05/10/new-writers-wanted/#respondWed, 11 May 2016 01:33:58 +0000http://mouzekateerz.com/?p=8366]]>Hey Howdy Hey!!! Have a passion for writing and looking for a blog to join? Mouze Kateerz is looking for new writers as we gear up withg new articles for the new year! Our writers have a love for Disney and traveling. Looking for energetic new writing with possible perks that are still in the works for those who write on a regular basis for Mouze… If you are interested please contact us at Dreammaker1974@gmail.com with your name and a sampling of your writing on Disney, Universal or family vacationing and one of our Administrator’s will review it and be back in touch with you.

One thing I love to do when planning my next Walt Disney World vacation is to come up with a list of all of the different food and drinks I would like to try on our next trip. It very rarely happens that I can cross them all off and some stay on my list over the course of several trips. There are just so many food locations and so many interesting choices that it seems impossible to try them all. And sometimes it doesn’t always quite make it into our plan or budget. I listen to a lot of different podcasts from week to week, I read a lot of different Disney related blogs, and any time someone mentions a new or interesting food, drink or experience, I immediately plug it into my notes app on my phone. Call it my mini bucket list if you will. My mini bucket list of tasty treats.

It is things like this that help me keep the dream alive while I sit here not so patiently waiting for my next vacation. *sigh*

-Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at Sleepy Hollow: Truth be told, I just need to visit Sleepy Hollow in general. In fact, I am ashamed to call myself a Walt Disney World fan when I have never even stopped here. Those waffle sandwiches are calling my name too!-Lapu Lapu at the Tambu Lounge: My friends at the Enchanted Tiki Talk podcast talk about this drink all the time, and I want to know and understand what they are talking about. I want to feel like we are still friends and that I can hang! Now with the addition of Trader Sams, I need to make the Polynesian a priority.-Truffle Mac n Cheese Hot Dog at Fairfax Fare: Truffle was all I really needed to hear in order to be convinced. It seems I’m always searching to find something good to eat while at the Studios. I plan to give this bad boy a try!-Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar: Safari Mike from Jambo Everyone is a big fan. And I’m a big fan of him, so I would imagine I will be a big fan of this. That is, if I can bring myself to not order my signature drink, the margarita!-Cronut at the Refreshment Port: Located right as you enter the World Showcase in Epcot and head towards Canada, I have always just walked past this place completely oblivious. Then I hear all these rave reviews about this croissant donut, or what they call the cronut. I will not walk past this place again, I can promise you that.-School Bread at Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe: I don’t even like coconut but I am probably going to need to get this. Because apparently you aren’t a Disney fan unless you’ve tried School Bread.-Roasted Pork Shank at Gaston’s Tavern: It’s been too busy inside Gaston’s Tavern the last few times we have been by there. But the pork shank has been on my list for a long time. -Tamarind Margarita at La Cava: La Cava is pretty much my favorite place in Epcot and I’ve experienced maybe one too many margaritas there. But my love of the Blood Orange margarita makes me think I might also love this one.

When in France…drink champagne!

-Cream Cheese Pretzel at Fife and Drum: A pretzel…with cream cheese…sounds like my kind of snack.-Sliced Beef Brisket at Tortuga Tavern: This menu is completely new as of like yesterday and if Tortuga Tavern is open on our next trip, this will be our lunch destination for sure!

Are any of these items on your mini bucket list of tasty treats to try?

]]>https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/02/10/universal-studios-orlando-diagon-alley/feed/0IMG_5150ornamentvalleytravelIMG_5112IMG_5108IMG_5100IMG_5113IMG_5097IMG_5026IMG_5027IMG_5033IMG_5032IMG_5042IMG_5084IMG_5030IMG_5035IMG_5034IMG_5037IMG_5039IMG_5040IMG_5041IMG_5090IMG_5091IMG_5092IMG_5093IMG_5094IMG_5095IMG_5096IMG_5118IMG_5122IMG_5123IMG_5126IMG_5132IMG_5137IMG_5140IMG_5148IMG_5142IMG_5145IMG_5146IMG_5149IMG_5150IMG_5152Tracy PhotoPhotos from the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festivalhttps://mouzekateerz.com/2016/01/21/photos-from-the-epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival/
https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/01/21/photos-from-the-epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival/#commentsThu, 21 Jan 2016 12:00:44 +0000http://mouzekateerz.com/?p=8454]]>Photos from the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Photos by Denny Miller

Ring in spring at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival! From March 2 to May 30, 2016, take in enchanting topiaries, garner gardening tips and savor seasonal foods from the Outdoor Kitchens at World Showcase.

Alan Rickman passed away this morning from a short battle with Cancer. He was known as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter Movie Series and also played Hans Gruber in the Die Hard Series. While these two characters are what he’s probably most known for he also had roles in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Sense and Sensibility, as well as an upcoming voice work for Alice Through the Looking Glass. He is a great talent that will be missed.

Disney Fantasy is a masterpiece of design and engineering boasting Art Nouveau allure alongside modern technological advancements. Set sail for exotic destinations aboard this 130,000-ton marvel while enjoying Disney magic at sea.

Amanda@MagicalVacationsbyMe.Com

]]>https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/01/13/cruising-disney-style/feed/0dreammaker1974DSCF9564DSCF9556DSCF9581DSCF9623DSCF9594DSCF9611DSCF9633DSCF9657Wordless Wednesdayhttps://mouzekateerz.com/2016/01/12/wordless-wednesday/
https://mouzekateerz.com/2016/01/12/wordless-wednesday/#respondWed, 13 Jan 2016 05:49:17 +0000http://mouzekateerz.com/?p=8520]]>Good morning Mouze Kateerz! In a few hours we will be launching our new weekly event.. Wordless Wednesday. This will be a weekly article with a collection of photos that we feel represents a love for traveling and the places we love to go.

Leave photos and comments of your favorite travels for the week as well. We love to see where our readers go and have fun!